Shakira and Karol G Combine Their Star Power on Blockbuster ‘TQG’

Fans have been waiting for this moment for years: Colombian heavyweights Shakira and Karal G have finally joined forces, combining their star power for the long-awaited collaboration “TQG.” The track is a biting break-up anthem that raises a middle finger to crappy, unfaithful boyfriends while showing Karol and Shakira at their most unapologetic.

The song is off of Karol’s new album, manana sera bonita , which drops on Feb. 24. On it, the two singers trade lyrics about a guy who’s done them wrong over a down-tempo beat. They each allude to high-profile relationships from their past: Karol, who announced her split from the rapper Anuel AA in 2021, talks about a significant other she helped level up. Shakira, meanwhile, mentions someone who strayed away from her, a reference seemingly about her public break-up with soccer player Gerard Piqué following an 11-year relationship.

Karol tells Rolling Stone that she wrote the song last year when she was in an emotional place. “When I started it, it had a personal meaning to me that evolved over time and though it doesn’t represent things now, it was a particular moment in my life,” she says. She had wanted to collaborate with Shakira for a long time, but hadn’t thought about asking her to jump on “TQG.” Then she heard Monotonia Shakira’s collaboration with Ozuna, and she realized Shakira’s story fit perfectly with what she was doing on her own track. “Listening to that story and where she was at, ‘the song ‘TQG’ made a lot of sense,” Karol says. “I sent it to her and she loved it.”

For the video, which was shot in Barcelona, they rented out an entire building with enough room for six sets. Both teams did their best to keep everything completely under wraps, but that proved difficult, given the profile of each artist. “As much as we tried, it was impossible to keep it a secret,” Karol says. “We wanted to shoot it in a studio so we wouldn’t be out in the streets and have pictures leak out.” Although snippets of the song came out, Karol says she’s happy no one got to see the concept and vision until the big premiere.
HERE IS THE LYRICS 

[Intro: KAROL G]
Whoever said a void can be filled with somebody else is lying to you
It’s like covering a wound with makeup, you don’t see it, but you still feel it
You left, saying you were over me (Ayy) and you got a new girlfriend
What she doesn’t know is you still watch all of my stories (No, papi)

[Chorus: KAROL G]
Baby, what happened? Weren’t you doing great?
Why are you looking for me? You know I don’t make any mistakes twice (Ayy, papi)
Tell your new baby that I don’t compete for men
That she should stop hating, ’cause at least I kept you looking cute
Verse 1: Shakira]
Seeing you with the new one hurt (Hurt)
But I’m already doing my own thing
I forgot everything that we lived
And that’s what got you so offended
Even my life got better
You’re no longer welcome here
I saw what your girlfriend said about me
I’m not even upset, I laugh, I laugh

[Verso 2: KAROL G & Shakira]
I don’t have time for whomever can’t contribute, I changed directions
Making money as if it was a sport (Ah)
Filling up my account, concerts, the parking, and my passport (Ayy)
And reports are saying I look hotter
Now you wanna come back, I can tell, mmm, yeah
Keep waiting for me, as if I was an idiot (Ah)
You forgot I’m doing my thing
And that La Bichota was too good for you

[Chorus: Shakira & KAROL G]
Baby, what happened? (Happened), weren’t you doing great? (Ah)
Why are you looking for me? (Ayy) You know I don’t make any mistakes twice (Ayy, papi)
Tell your new baby that I don’t compete for men
That she should stop hating, ’cause at least I kept you looking cute (Shakira, Shakira)
[Verse 3: Shakira & KAROL G]
You left and I got triple M
More hot, more toned, more chill
I would never get back with you, you’re bad luck
Because now blessings rain down on me
And you want to come back, I saw it coming
Liking one of my pictures
You were looking for food with others
And I used to say it was just the monotony
And you want to come back, I saw it coming
Liking one of my pictures (My pictures)
You look happy with your new life
If only she knew you still look for me

[Chorus: KAROL G & Shakira]
Baby, what happened? (Happened), weren’t you doing great? (Ah)
Why are you looking for me? (Ayy) You know I don’t make any mistakes twice
Tell your new baby that I don’t compete for men (Shake that ass)
That she doesn’t have a good hand, and at least I kept you looking cute

[Outro: KAROL G]
O-O-Ovy On The Drums
My love, you got too far away
And I can’t see from afar, baby
I love you, but I was too good for you, hahaha
Barranquilla, Medallo

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